Are Your Gemstones Natural?
Understanding Natural Stones & Common Gemstone Treatments
At Fantasy Gems and Jewelry, the vast majority of our gemstones are completely natural — shaped only by the earth and brought to life through expert cutting. We take pride in offering gems that have never been tampered with, altered, or artificially enhanced beyond what is widely accepted and ethical within the gemstone industry.
That said, some gemstones do undergo standard, industry-recognized treatments that improve durability, stability, or color. These treatments do not make a stone “fake” — and in many cases, they increase the gemstone’s value, beauty, and longevity.
As part of our commitment to transparency, any treatment will always be clearly listed in the product description.
Are Most of Our Gems Natural?
Yes. Nearly all the stones we sell — including carvings, fantasy cuts, and faceted gems — are 100% natural and untreated.
When we do offer treated stones, they are:
- treated using industry-standard methods,
- treated for durability or to reveal natural color,
- and never treated in a way that diminishes value.
We only use treatments that support or enhance the stone, not ones that artificially inflate appearance or disguise low-quality material.
Common Gemstone Treatments We Use (and Why)
Here are the treatments you’ll see from us — always disclosed, always ethical, and always used for a purpose.
1. Stabilization
Used for: Turquoise, Variscite, and certain soft stones
Purpose: Improves durability and wearability
Stabilization is an accepted standard for softer materials. It strengthens the stone so it can be set securely and worn daily, without changing its natural color patterns.
Stabilized stones remain 100% real gemstones — the treatment simply reinforces them.
2. Heating
Used for: Various quartz, bicolor citrine–smoky quartz, citrine, some agates, and sapphires
Purpose: Brings out naturally occurring color
Heating is one of the oldest and most respected gemstone treatments. It reveals or intensifies color that already exists within the stone’s natural chemical structure. Heated stones are still fully natural and widely accepted in fine jewelry.
This treatment does not reduce value — and often increases it.
3. Oiling
Used for: Some emeralds
Purpose: Enhances clarity by filling natural fissures with clear oil
Oiling is a traditional and globally accepted enhancement for emeralds. Nearly all fine emeralds have been lightly oiled at some point. It preserves the stone’s natural beauty without altering color or structure.
4. Irradiation
Used for: Verde Quartz, some topaz
Purpose: Produces stable, attractive colors known to collectors
Irradiation creates vivid and rare colors that do not occur often in nature. These colors are stable and permanent. Collector markets actively seek certain irradiated quartz varieties for their uniqueness.
5. Dyeing (Used Rarely)
Used for: Select agates
Purpose: Enhances contrast in banding or tones in lower-saturation material
We use dyed agates very sparingly, and only when the material's natural patterns benefit aesthetically. All dyed materials are clearly labeled.
6. Doublets & Triplets
These are assembled gemstones created by combining natural materials. They can showcase color or patterns in ways a single stone sometimes cannot. When offered, they are always disclosed.
Treatments We Never Use
We do not sell:
- synthetic gemstones
- colored lab-grown stones (lab-grown diamonds are used occasionally, and will be clearly labled in the product description)
- glass-filled rubies
- “Mystic” coated topaz
- CZ
- resin-filled stones
- artificially created imitation materials
Everything we offer is real gemstone material, whether natural or ethically treated.
Why Some Treatments Add Value
Unlike artificial enhancements or synthetic creations, the treatments we use:
✔ support structural stability
✔ reveal the stone’s natural color potential
✔ improve longevity and wearability
✔ follow industry standards accepted by major labs
✔ preserve the integrity of the gemstone
✔ allow collectors to enjoy beautiful stones that would otherwise remain unusable
In short:
We only use treatments that make a natural stone stronger, more durable, or more beautiful — never less valuable.
Gemstone Treatment Comparison Table
| Treatment | What It Means | Common Materials | Industry Acceptance | Impact on Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None (Natural) | No treatments applied | Most stones we offer | Fully accepted | Highest value |
| Stabilization | Resin stabilizes soft material | Turquoise, Variscite | Very common | Neutral to positive (improves durability) |
| Heating | Heat enhances natural color | Quartz, citrine, sapphire, agate | Highly accepted | Neutral to positive |
| Oiling | Oil fills natural fissures | Emerald | Traditional & standard | Neutral to positive |
| Irradiation | Creates stable, vivid color | Verde Quartz, topaz | Accepted for specific varieties | Neutral to positive for collectors |
| Dyeing | Adds color to porous stones | Some agates | Accepted when disclosed | Neutral |
| Doublets/Triplets | Natural layers assembled | Opal, some specialty materials | Accepted when disclosed | Variable |
Our Commitment to Transparency
We believe in total honesty.
Every gemstone in our collection will always include clear treatment disclosure so you know exactly what you’re buying.
If a stone is untreated, we say so.
If a stone is treated, we explain exactly how.
Interested in a Natural or Untreated Gem?
We are always happy to help you find the perfect stone — whether natural, ethically treated, or fully investment-grade.
Contact us for sourcing, education, or custom cutting inquiries.
